Carrier for pneumatic dispatch tube systems



Sept. 17,1935. J. T NEEDHAM 2,014,44-

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 31, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 0 Q E Z i Zhwentor WOHN F. NEEDHAM' attorney;

Sept, 17, W35. 7 J. T. NEEDHAM 9 7 CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBE SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 31, 1932 2 Sheets$heet 2 I 1v v T J I 4 2 J i I '1 m 11 inventor JOHN T. NEEDHAM 7:; 4 5? Gttornegs Patented Sept. 17, 1935 s rArss PATENT OFFiiC CARRIER FOR PNEUIJKATIC DISPATCH TUBE SYSTEMS 34 Claims.

I-Ieretofore the buffer head of a carrier has been made of a disk of dense felt. Such a head is costly and besides, the felt disk absorbs much moisture of condensation in the dispatch tubing.

- The saturation of the felt head with moisture objectionably increases the weight of the carrier and also causes the head to expand to such a degree as to impede the travel of the carrier. These felt buffer heads are usually attached to a closed end of the carrier body by rivets or screws or other suitable fastening means.

This invention relates more particularly to improvements in the buffer heads and bearing rings for pneumatic dispatch tube carriers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a carrier buffer head having an improved composite structure employing a greatly reduced amount of felt and still possessing the requisite compressibility, resiliency and durability, whereby the cost of the buffer head and also its moisture-absorbing capacity will be materially reduced.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a carrier equipped with one form of the improved buffer head;

Fig. 2 a face view of the buffer head of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 sectional views showing different modifications of the buffer head.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one form of the improved buifer head is shown mounted upon the tubular container body of a carrier employed for carrying message sheets in a pneumatic dispatch tube. The carrier body comprises a tubular body section i, a sleeve section 2 fixed to one end of said body section and .a cup-shaped cap section 3 fitted over the opposite end of the body section, closing it and fixed thereto. The sections may be made of metal, hard fiber, hard rubber or other suitable material. The buffer head is secured to the cup-shaped cap section 3 and is of composite construction. It includes a moisture-impervious core comprising a flat, circular disk 4 of rather soft resilient rubber. This disk is encircled by a bearing and guiding ring 5 of dense felt of the kind usually employed in the buffer heads of carriers. The felt ring forms a facing for the periphery of the rubber disk and is secured thereto. The diameter of the rubber disk exceeds that of the cup-shaped end section 3 of the carrier body, and, at one face, the disk is recessed to receive the bottom portion of said section. The containing space of the carrier body extends into said recess and by insetting the body in the buffer head the overall length of the carrier is reduced without reducing the carrier capacity.

For cheapness I prefer that the felt ring 5 be formed from a straight strip of felt which may be 5 cut from sheet stock. The ends of the strip are feathered, the strip is curled into circular form and the feathered ends are overlapped and cemented together, as at E. A rubber compound suitable for vulcanizing and preferably in a semi- 10 fluid or plastic state, is placed in the felt ring and the end of the carrier is embedded therein, as shown in Fig. l. The carrier and the rubber compound and the encircling bearing ring of felt are then placed in a suitable mold and subjected to 15 the usual vulcanizing process. The molding and vulcanizing of the rubber within the felt ring and around the end of the carrier body intimately and permanently unites the rubber around the entire interior surface of the ring and interlocks it with 20 .the fibers of the felt, and intimately and permanently ailixes the rubber to the carrier body and forms an integral, durable buffer head structure. The rubber core is vulcanized to a suflicient degree to render the buffer head moderately compressible and resilient, but of sufficient strength and solidity to withstand the jars and shocks of service. A composite buffer head so constructed is very much cheaper than a solid felt disk and, owing to the material reduction in the amount of felt employed, it absorbs much less moisture.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the buffer head is formed independently of the body of the carrier. Both faces of the rubber core 4 are flat and the core is fastened to the cap 3 by rivets 1. Otherwise the structure of the buffer head is similar to that previously described. This form of buffer head is formed by placing the ring of felt in a suitable circular mold and placing the rubber in a semi-fluid or plastic state within the ring and then subjecting it to the usual vulcanizing process, the rubber being brought to the desired degree of hardness to give the head the necessary resilience and flexibility while at the same time giving it sufficient strength to withstand the jars and shocks of service.

Fig. 4 shows another mounting of the composite buffer head. Here the end cap of the carrier body is omitted and the rubber core 4 serves to close the end of the tubular body section I. 50

The felt bearing and guiding ring is placed in a suitable mold and the rubber in a semi-fluid or plastic state is placed within the ring. The open end of the carrier is then embedded in the plastic rubber and subjected to the usual vulcanizing process, whereby the rubber is molded and vulcanized around the carrier end and to the felt bearing and guiding ring. The vulcanizing operation permanently unites the rubber to the felt ring and permanently fixes the rubber to the carrier body.

Fig. 5 shows the buffer head secured to the end cap 3 of the carrier by headed screws 8. At its face opposed to the cap the rubber core 4 has embedded therein a metal disk 9. The latter has threaded screw holes I!) registering with unthreaded screw holes in the cap. The screws are inserted from the interior of the carrier, through the unthreaded holes in the cap and screwed through the threaded holes l0 in the disk 9 and into the rubber core 4. The rubber, by its frictional engagement with the screw threads, effectively locks the screws and prevents unscrewing. In making up this form of buffer head the felt ring is placed in a suitable mold and filled with semi-liquid or plastic rubber. The plate 9 is embedded in the rubber to be flush with one outer face of the head and then the rubber is subjected to the usual vulcanizing process. The plate 9 is thereby permanently afrixed and embedded in the rubber and the rubber is intimately and permanently united with the felt ring.

In Fig. 6 the rubber core 4 of the buffer head has a concentric metal reinforcing ring H embedded therein. The rubber is molded and vul canized to entirely enclose said ring and to aiiix the rubber to the felt ring. Bolts l2 are passed outward through the cap 3 and the rubber core at points located within the ring and have nuts [3 and washers l4 securing the core to the cap. The purpose of the ring H is to limit the peripheral expansion of the buffer head when the nuts are tightened and prevent the head from becoming too large for the caliber of the dispatch tube. The ring may have suiiicient flexibility to permit a desired lateral yield under shock. This structure is intended primarily for large carriers.

In Fig. '7 the buffer head is held to the carrier body through a metal cup-shaped end member l5 having its bottom abutting the cap 3 and riveted thereto as at l6. Said member forms an outwardly projecting annular flange I! having a slight lateral flange 3 at its outer edge. A cornpressible rubber cushion ring I9 encircles the flange l1 and the felt facing ring 5 encircles said rubber ring. The rubber is molded and vulcanized to fix it intimately and permanently to the felt facing ring and to the flanges I! and !8. If desired said flanges may be made slightly compressible and resilient for additional cushioning effect.

While I prefer to use ordinary commercial rubber composition suitable for vulcanizing it is to be understood that any suitable material such as moldable pulp, preferably fibrous pulp, may be used which will form a tough, resilient, moistureproof and moldable core for the bearing ring. While I prefer to use ordinary commercial felt such as is now used in buffer heads of pneumatic dispatch tube carriers it is to be understood that I may use any material which will serve as an efficient bearing ring for the carrier and which may be intimately united with the carrier body, or buffer head body, by molding or vulcanization such as cotton, linen, jute, hemp, paper, paper pulp wood and similar fibrous nonfriction materials. The term vulcanizing is used in its broad meaning, and not in a restricted sense. In

commercial usage the term includes all forms of manent condition for use, and in that sense it is used herein.

What I claim is:

1. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system comprising a tubular container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a ring of felt forming a peripheral facing for the buffer head, and a core of compressible rubber secured to the body of the carrier and molded within said felt ring to unite the ring and core intimately and permanently.

2. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system comprising a tubular container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a bearing ring forming a peripheral facing for the buffer head, and a core of compressible moisture-proof material secured to the body of the carrier and molded within said bearing ring to unite the ring and core intimately and permanently.

3. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system, comprising a tubular container body, a felt bearing and guiding ring, and a body of rubber vulcanized within and to the felt ring and aiiixed to the carrier body.

4. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system, comprising a tubular container body, a felt bearing and guiding ring, and a body of rubber vulcanized within and to the felt ring and to the carrier body.

5. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system comprising a tubular container body; and a composite butler head comprising a ring of felt forming a peripheral facing for the buffer head, and a core of tough, resilient, compressible rubber molded within said ring to intimately and securely unite with the ring and molded to and around an end of the carrier to secure it thereto.

6. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system comprising a tubular container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a bearing ring forming a peripheral facing for the bi fer head, and a core of tough, resilient, compressible moisture-proof material molded within said ring to intimately and securely unite with the ring and molded to and around an end of the carrier to secure it thereto.

7. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube system comprising a tubular body, and a composite buffer head comprising a felt ring forming a peripheral bearing ring for the edge of the buffer head, and a core of com ressible rubber molded to and around an end of the carrier body to secure it thereto and molded within said felt ring to unite the ring and core intimately and permanently.

8. A buffer head for a pneumatic dispatch car rier comprising a body of rubber and a felt buffer facing for said rubber body, the rubber being molded to the felt to unite it intimately and curely therewith.

9. A bufier head for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a core body of tough moistureproof resilient material and a bearing ring around the edge of said body, the core body being molded within the ring to fill the ring and to unite it intimately and permanently therewith.

10. A buffer head for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a body of rubber and a bufler facing for said rubber body, the rubber being molded to the buffer facing to unite it intimately and securely therewith.

11. A composite buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a body of rubber Cal having an annular periphery, and another material of a soft fibrous non-friction character inexposed around the annular peripheral surface of the rubber body for contact with the interior of a dispatch tube.

12. A carrier comprising a container body; and a composite buifer head comprising a compressible and resilient moisture-proof core carried by the container body, and a facing ring surrounding said core and cemented thereto and formed of a wound strip of felt having its ends cemented together.

13. A carrier comprising a container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk of compressible rubber secured to said body, and an annular felt facing strip surrounding the periphery of said disk and secured thereto.

14. A carrier comprising a tubular container body having a Wall closing one end; and a composite buffer head comprising a compressible rubber disk, a disk of hard material cemented to one face of said disk and abutting the outer face of said end wall, a screw passed through said end Wall and screwed through said disk of hard material and into the rubber disk to secure the buffer head to the container body, and a facing ring of compressible moisture-absorbing material surrounding the periphery of the rubber disk and secured thereto.

15. A carrier comprising a tubular container body; and a buffer head comprising an annular flange carried by the container body and projecting from one end thereof, a compressible rubber ring surrounding said flange and secured to it, and a felt facing ring surrounding said rubber ring and secured thereto.

16. A carrier comprising a tubular container body closed at one end; and a buffer head comprising a cup-like member having its bottom secured to the closed end of the container body, a compressible rubber ring surrounding said cuplike member and cemented thereto, and a felt facing ring surrounding said rubber ring and cemented thereto.

17. A carrier comprising a container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a compressible rubber disk secured to the container body, and a facing ring surrounding the periphery of said disk and cemented thereto and formed of a Wound strip of felt having its ends cemented together.

18. A buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a body of rubber, and a felt bearing ring surrounding the periphery of said rubber body and secured thereto.

19. A buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a body of rubber, and a hearing facing of compressible fibrous material surrounding the periphery of said rubber body and secured thereto.

20. A buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a body of rubber, and a strip of felt Wound around the periphery of said rubber body and secured thereto to form a bearing ring.

21. A buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a disk-like core of rubber, and a facing ring of felt surrounding the periphery of said core and secured thereto.

22. A buffer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a disk-like core of rubber, and a facing ring of felt surrounding the periphery of said core and. intimately and permanently secured to the core by vulcanization of the rubber to the felt.

23. A pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk-like core of rubber secured to the carrier body, and a facing ring of compressible, fibrous material surrounding the periphery of said core and secured thereto.

24. A carriercomprising a tubular container 5 body; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk-like core of rubber recessed at one face to receive one end of the carrier body and secured tosaid body, and a facing ring of compressible, fibrous material surrounding the periphery of said core and secured thereto.

25. A carrier comprising a tubular container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk-like core of rubber recessed at one face to receive an end portion of the carrier body and vulcanized to and around the peripheral margin of said end portion of the carrier, and a facing .ring of compressible, fibrous material extending around the periphery of thereto.

26. A carrier comprising a tubular container body; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk-like core of rubber recessed at one face to receive one end of the carrier body and Vulcanized to and around the peripheral margin of said end, and a facing ring of compressible, fibrous material extending around the periphery of said core and secured thereto, the core closing said end.

27. A buffer head of composite structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier, comprising an annular portion of hard material, a compressible and resilient rubber portion surrounding the periphery of said annular portion, and a facing ring of compressible, fibrous material surrounding the periphery of said rubber portion.

28. A buffer head of composite structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier, comprising a cuplike member of hard material, a ring of compressible and resilient rubber surrounding the periphery of the annular portion of said cup-like member, and a facing ring of compressible, fibrous material surrounding the periphery of said rubber ring.

29. A buffer head of composite structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier, comprising a cuplike member of hard material, having a bottom and a radially yieldable springy annular portion, a ring of compressible and resilient rubber extending around the periphery of said annular portion and held thereto, and a facing ring of felt extending around the periphery of said rubber ring and. held thereto.

30. A pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a tubular container portion, a cup-shaped portion having one end of said tubular portion nested. therein and secured thereto; and a composite buffer head comprising a disk-like body of compressible and resilient rubber having the bottom of said cup-shaped portion embedded therein, and a bearing ring of compressible fibrous material surrounding the periphery of the rubber body and secured by vulcanization of the rubber thereto, the rubber of said body being also vulcanized to and around the peripheral side wall of said cup-shaped portion and to and across the outer face of the bottom of said portion to secure the buffer head in place.

31. A buifer structure for a pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a strip of felt cut from sheet stock and curled into the form of a ring, and a body of rubber within said ring and vulcanized to the ring therearound to intimately unite the ring and the body of rubber, the ring said core and secured forming a peripheral facing for the body of rubber.

32. A carrier comprising a tubular container body, and a buffer head comprising a disk-like body of rubber larger in diameter than the body of the container and recessed at one face to receive one end of the carrier body and vulcanized to and around the peripheral margin of the end of the carrier body received in said recess to unite the rubber body intimately to the carrier body to mutually reinforce the carrier end and the buffer head, to exclude moisture from between the buffer head and the carrier body where they contact each other, and hold the rubber tight to the body of the carrier when the rubber is flexed.

33. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube formed of a tubular container, and a buffer member comprising a continuous unbroken body of rubber extending beyond the longitudinal side wall of the container and vulcanized to and around the carrier body to unite it intimately thereto, to reinforce the end of the carrier, to exclude moisture from between said bufier member and the body of the carrier, to prevent the rubber from being flexed away from the body of the carrier where said rubber contacts the body of the carrier, and to distribute impact strains imposed on said buffer member to the body of the carrier throughout the area of contact between said buffer member and the carrier body.

34. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch tube formed of a tubular container, and a buffer head comprising a body of rubber secured to one end of said container by vulcanization thereto to reinf orce the end of the carrier and the buffer head, to exclude moisture from between the said buffer head and the body of the carrier, and to distribute impact strains imposed on said head to the body of the carrier throughout the area of contact between the head and the body.

JOHN T. NEEDHAM. 

